<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">With Lakers center Kwame Brown out indefinitely because of a sprained left ankle, should Coach Phil Jackson start 19-year-old Andrew Bynum or 23-year-old Ronny Turiaf, both second-year players? Bynum wouldn't be so bold as to tell his coach what to do. But he wasn't hesitant Sunday night in declaring what the starting job would do for him. It would, he said, make him more effective. "My play was at a higher level at the start of the season when I was starting," Bynum said. "Not starting affects your rhythm. It's tough coming off the bench. Sometimes when you come off the bench, you haven't played for like an hour. When you start, you get those extra minutes." The numbers bear out Bynum. He started the Lakers' first 14 games, averaging 8.5 points and 6.3 rebounds. Coming off the bench for the last 17 games, he has averaged 6.1 points and 4.2 rebounds. "I'm definitely up to the challenge," said Bynum of replacing Brown. "I can start in the NBA and I can play big minutes." Jackson doesn't seem to share Bynum's confidence. "I'm not sure Andrew's quite ready to step into that role on a full-time level," Jackson said. "I won't make that decision until I kind of check out how I feel about that. I might keep Andrew off the bench and use Ronny as the starter." Said Turiaf: "I respect whatever the coach does. He has nine championships. He knows what he is doing. I will follow."</div> Source
Bynum and Ronny as starter, bye Cook and Brown (until Lamar come back). Its Ronny chance to show his potential.
<div class="quote_poster">pablitocesar Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Bynum and Ronny as starter, bye Cook and Brown (until Lamar come back). Its Ronny chance to show his potential.</div> According to the article, PJax mentiond Turiaf might be the starting center. If he plays center, I guess the Lakers will be going with small-ball to defeat teams.
Yeah, I heard we were going to start Ronny as well, which sort of baffles me. Andrew Bynum showed early on in the season (when Kwame was also injured) that he has the ability to be a starting center. I have no idea why Phil would rather start Ronny Turiaf. Don't get me wrong, I love Ronny as much as the next guy, but I just think his game will better suit us coming off the bench. He can give us energy and a spark playing with the second unit. What I also don't understand is how Phil Jackson used him so sparingly throughout this whole season, and is all of a sudden expecting him to start. It's kind of weird if you ask me, but then again, I'm not going to question Phil's ways considering he's the man with the 9 rings
<div class="quote_poster">Brian Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah, I heard we were going to start Ronny as well, which sort of baffles me. Andrew Bynum showed early on in the season (when Kwame was also injured) that he has the ability to be a starting center. I have no idea why Phil would rather start Ronny Turiaf. Don't get me wrong, I love Ronny as much as the next guy, but I just think his game will better suit us coming off the bench. He can give us energy and a spark playing with the second unit. What I also don't understand is how Phil Jackson used him so sparingly throughout this whole season, and is all of a sudden expecting him to start. It's kind of weird if you ask me, but then again, I'm not going to question Phil's ways considering he's the man with the 9 rings</div> Maybe PJax has the ability to see into the future and knew Odom & Kwame would both get injured, thus he saved Turiaf's energy for this moment. I'm also baffled why PJax wouldn't name Bynum the starter. It's probably reverse psychology and he wants Andrew to earn the starting job, rather than handing it to him because of a depleted frontline? I actually wouldn't be opposed to starting both at the same time, but I guess it would leave us without any shooters on the floor. We'll probably see a lot of different lineup variations from PJax until players get healthy again, should be an aggravating month for Laker fans. I'd go with this lineup: PG - Smush SG - Kobe SF - Luke PF - Turiaf C - Bynum
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"> I'd go with this lineup: PG - Smush SG - Kobe SF - Luke PF - Turiaf C - Bynum</div> That lineup doesn't look too shabby, but Kobe would have to probably put up the majority of the points. Anyways, I really hope Vladamir Radmanovic can step up. The loss of Kwame Brown will most definetly give him more playing time.
I would do it like this: PG: Smush SG: Kobe (40 mpg) SF: Walton (covers 8 mpg @ PF, rest @ SF) / Evans PF: Vlad Ramdman (15 mpg @ PF) C: Turiaf (10 @ center, 15 @ PF) Cook 8 mpg @ center, 10 @ PF Then bring Bynum off the bench to play 30 minutes (all at center).
I think we need to put turiaf and bynum at starting pf and center, our upcoming opponents have a fairly large front court and we need size more than ever.
Bynum is ready to step up, then sit back down to eat Froot Loops because he is tired. I hope our guys are up to the challenge. It seems like we have been shafted by the powers that be. Since most are putting up lineups I would go with this one: PG - Smush SG - Kobe SF - Luke PF - Vlade C - Turiaf
This just proves that the lakers REALLY HAVE A QUALITY and DEEP LINEUP PG:Smush/Farmar SG:Kobe/Vujacic SF:Walton/Evans PF:Vrad/Cook C:Bynum/Turiaf Thats without Lamar, Kwame and Mihm
Nah, the only position we have depth in right now is SF with Walton and Evans, and slightly at center with Bynum and (PF) Ronny. Our SG is covered by Kobe, but there is no good substitute for him unless you use Evans. Our PG position is kinda weak, and if you count Turiaf as a center, our PF spot is catastrophical. Radman is unstable and Cook... don't get me started on him.